Banding machine



Nov. 26, 1957 J. H. HoL'rElN BANDING MACHINE 'Filed Jan. 9, 195s 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 26, 1957 J. H. HOLSTEIN BANDING MACHINE:

Filed Jan. 9, 1956 5 NR 9 l0.. 2 freu SMEE m www... S w 3 H @m a m wm h l S f O BW J E 5 ww W mrilz w 0 3 9 am w 3 m E 5 on 6 m w 8 o N a M .wo mu w m 9^ l ww w om f o Nov. 26, 1957 J. H. HOLSTEIN 2,814,173

BANDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9. 195e A 5 sheets-sheet s 19a ,e a /ss l ey a/WM Nov. 26, 1957 J. H. HOLSTEIN 2,814,173

i BANDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Husa/VER, aEEHLE/, l l wo/PREL a HERZ/6 0 AroR/vmcf Nov. 26, 1957 J. H. HOLSTEIN 2,814,173

BANDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 195e s sheets-sheet s kfw/"Pf,

JOHN H. HOLSTEIN /NvE/vmR HUEBNER, BEEHLER,

WORREL 8 HERZ/G AHORA/Ey:

2:5145173Y BANDING MAcmNE 191,1112 H-,Holstisltltena Calif- Applic'ation January 9, 1956, Serial-No.`55 7,898 2.a Claims (CL, samen) The present invention relates to banding machines and more particularly to an apparatusl for antomatically applying tubular sealing bands of shrinkable material,- suppliedin flattened segments of predetermined length, to iillecl` containers and, their closures, such as bottles and their ePS- f My prior Patent No. 2J,623,673 discloses a banding maehine suited to' the banding of bottles from a continuous supply'of tubular bandimaterial in contrast the present invention which is concerned with the application of pre-cut bands of the type conventionally applied by hand. It is the usual practiceto place sealing bands on the tops of bottled beverages, and especially' alcoholic beverages,` after capping thereof; to insure the maintenance ofproper seals from the time of bottling until the bands are broken by the consumers. Normally,` sealing bands employed for this purposeH are made of regenerated cellulose, thermo-plastic `orlil e material which` is preformed into tubes,y maintainedin moistened condition to:k preclude premature constriction', arid aiteremplacement on a` bottle in bridging relation between the bottle and its cap, permittedV to shrink tightly into place forming a vseal between the bottle and leap."

Prior to'my aboveic'lentiedw prior invention, the banding of bottlesr` was universally aimannal operalticni.4 Pre: vious'ly lled and capped bottles were carried on a con-Y veyor along a predeterminedpath of movement past atts'flafnts Wh'd'Were Supplied with the Rte-eut. Segments ef, tubular. banding material immersed in glyeerin'e tov pre; Cllud bremfuf shrinkage The bands Werl.. diealt to. handle aad th, bottles were traveled algae ther rath f movement as rapidly as possible and yet permit band application. As each bottlev passed;4 the attendant was requiredV to graspy a'precut band, which incidentally was @Xdinslysliprern Open the han@ fram flattened t9, opeentubular'conditionfpass the band ddwnwardly over the bottle and vits cap, and endeavor-to insure the proper elevationaly location ofy the band tl:ie l:iot il el arid .cap so as to attain the desired bridging eleet. Such banding operations, although still practicedin much'of the in'` dustry, are subject to many disadvantages. The rate at which bottles can be iilled, capped and packaged is re- Stritedtd the maximaal iedfaf Wh' 11j the S-el's. tan, be empl'la'edl The nvsitinaig et @mais iS a tsdiausly repetitions7 task consider ,onerous by most worlmen. i Y r i les The elevational positioning of'the. seals on theb and caps varies vover snch' a range due to huniarn inl,

www that teuliy Sealing. ftequetly r 0f e desired. uatotraity Qt arpearaas. Farther, the metal, applsatiqlllaf the 1S is am h mers expensive than desired' avea when, fas nd. @anatema warkme are emPlOYsd, tar, the ramass- 111 .Seite 0f these. disadvantage@ many :Plants have, not fait@ ifpratif S. aaa-a lack. is? urs.

2,814,173 Patented N'ov. 26, l1 957 ice An object of ther present invention is, therefore, to provide an apparatus for applying pre-cut bands or seals'l ofl the type conventionally applied by hand.

Another objectl is toy provide an apparatus for automatically, economically, rapidly and dependably sealing closure members, such as -corks and caps, to their containers, such asbottles, cans andl jars.V v

Another object is to provide a machine adapted toY remove containers from Va' conveyor, apply sealing bands to the containers, and return the sealed containers to the conveyor.

Another object is to provide an apparatus forl` opening a tube of banding material preformed` into flattened con` dition for storage, purposesh'intotubular form for application to the tops of containers.

Another object is to provide' an apparatus for receiving a flattened tubular band, opening the band, inserting ari end of a container to be `sealed into. the opened band, and releasing the band for application to the end of the container.

Another object is to provide a band manipulating mechanism adpted'to draw a attened band thereagainst, to engage opposite sidesof the band, to draw such "op-Q posite'si'les outwardly to holdl the band'in tubulaifcondition to enable insertion ofthe top of a containertherewithin, and to release the bandf for lapplication'to such a container.

Another object is to provide a container banding deviee for automatically feeding bands to a V*band receiving'and opening means which de'v-ice is rendered operative'inre# sponse to 'movement' ofcontainers to be banded into the device.

Another object is to provide a device in a banding machine for vopening barids previously formed into ilatteixedY condition and having opposite sides which tendto adhere becauseY ot an absence of air therebetween,l which device admits air between the opposite sides to facilitate open# ing of the bands. Y' i These and otherobjects will become more fully ap parent upon reference to the following clescription.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a banding machine embodying the principles of the present invention'withA various'angular positions designated in degrees 'thereon for convenience oi reference. 4"

Fig: 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary vertial section taken on line 2-2 of Figl l. W

Fig. 3 is a comparative diagrammatic representation of several-cams employed in the apparatus illustrating their azimuthal relationship with degrees of` rotati n therein corresponding to the designated degrees in Fig. l.'

Fig. 4 is asomewhat enlarged f,r"agrne'ntary elevational section of a magazine and band manipulating mech nr of the present invention in open position taken lnie 4 4 ofgFig'L v. Fig. 5 is a somewhatenlarged fragmentary plan with portions thereof in section showing the band manipulating mechanism oi Fig. 4 in closed pesition: Y' p Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 5 but Vshowing band holding fingers of manipulating me nism outwardly separated into substantially cireirlar or mation and a band positioned therebetween.

Fig. 7 is a somewhat enlargedV fragmentarytelevatiqnal section taken on a vertical plane indicated byline of Eig. 6 and showing a bottle in banding position.

Fig. 8 isa fragmentary elevational section taken on a vertical plane indicated byline 8-,-.8 of Fig 5.v i

Fig. 9 isV an elevational section taken on a plane indicated by line 9:9 af Fig- 5- Fig. l0I is an elevational section taken on line 10-10 Eeyll iS pfaawhat enlarged fragmentary hori- 3 zontal section taken on a plane indicated by line 1111 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is -a somewhat enlarged fragmentary elevational section taken on line 12--12 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary elevational section taken on line 13--13 of Fig. 1.

Fig. t 14 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the magazine of Fig. 13 and closure plate therefor.

Fig. 15 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary plan view of the magazine, closure plate, and bottle handling mechanism, all as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of an electro-mechanical system employed in the apparatus.

Referring more particularly to the drawings:

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the present invention includes a bottle handling mechanism, generally indicated at 20, a band feeding mechanism, designated at 21, and a band applying mechanism, shown at 22. The division of the structure into these three general sub-assemblies is to facilitate the structural and operational description although it will be apparent that they cooperate in forming a single operable entity.

Bottle handling mechanism With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a conveyor 25 provides an upper run 26 and a lower return run 27 and is mounted in a substantially horizontal position -in any suitable manner. The conveyor is provided with drive means, not shown, for moving the upper and lower runs in a circuitous path of travel, as is well known. A plurality of upwardly disposed brackets 28 lare mounted at intervals on the conveyor at opposite sides of the runs and in turn mount elongated guide rods 29. The conveyor is adapted to carry bottles 30 successively to the band applying mechanism and to carry the bottles after sealing therefrom. n

An L-shaped support flange 34 having a substantially horizontal elongated ledge and a dependent skirt is provided adjacent to the conveyor 25. A pair of shafts 35 are mounted for rotation in `the ledge adjacent to the conveyor 25 in spaced substantially upright positions. Bottle delivery and removal star wheels 36 Aare mounted individuallyI on the shafts for rotation in partially overlapping relation over the upper run 26 `of the conveyor. Upper and lower bottle directing plates 37 having arcuate edges are mounted longitudinally of the conveyor between the star wheels in substantially horizontal positions which in association with their adjacent star wheels serve to guide bottles 30 on and off the conveyor. l The conveyor structure just described is Awell-known -in the art. c

A support shaft 4.2, best seen in Fig. 2, is mounted in any suitable manner in substantially erect position adjacent to the conveyor 25. An inner substantially cylindrical movable housing or carrier 43 is mounted concentrically on the shaft for rotation therearound by a bearing 44 fixed to the support shaft. An annular flange 45 is extended from a lower end of the inner housing and a spur gear 46 is concentrically secured thereto by bolts 47.

A fixed substantially cylindrical outer housing 48 having an open upper end is mounted in any convenient manner concentrically of the inner housing 43 and is preferably secured to the support flange 34. An annular mounting plate 49 is secured within the outer housing around the inner housing immediately above the spur gear. A pinion gear 50 is mounted on one of the star wheel shafts 35 in driving connection to the spur gear 46 through a pair of reach gears 51 journaled for rotation on the mounting plate and downwardly extended therefrom. The outer housing provides a slot 52 in its periphery to accommodate meshing engagement on the pinion gear and the outermost reach gear. It will be apparent that in this manner the inner housing is vdriven through rotation of-one of the star wheel shafts,l Vsuch shaft being power driven -in any suitable manner. The other star wheel shaft is Lrotated through a seriesvof reach gears 51 journaled on Ithe mounting plate in mesh with the spur gear and a pinion gear 50 on such other star wheel shaft as shown in dashed lines -in Fig. l.

An annular bracket 55 is radially extended from the inner housing 43 and provides a plurality of erect bearings 56 therein in horizontal annularly spaced relation. Support posts 57 are mounted in the bearings for recipfocal elevational movement and bottle supporting tables 58 are secured in substantially horizontal position at upper extremities of the posts above the bearings. The annular bracket provides an annular dependent skirt 59 downwardly extend around the outer housing 48.

In Fig. 2, an annular bottle elevating cam 65 is mounted concentrically of the inner housing 43 on the mounting plate 49 and within the outer housing 48. The cam provides a contour which is best seen in Fig. 3. As will be evident, a full cycle of the cam is considered as beginning at the left of Fig. 3 at 0 and ending at the right with 360. Thus, the cam is substantially horizontal from 0 to 180 of clockwise progression, as viewed in Fig. l, is upwardly sloped from 180 -to 240, provides a substantially horizontal dwell from 240 to 255, is downwardly sloped from 255 to 315, and provides a substantially horizontal portion continuous with the first 180 from 315 to 360.

The support posts 57 provide lower ends having stub axles 70 transversely mounted therein and radially outwardly extended toward the bottle elevating cam 65. A cam following roller 71 is rotatably mounted on each axle in rolling engagement with the cam. From this it will be understood that rotation of the inner housing 43 causes the bottle supporting tables 58 to revolve concentricallyabout a substantially erect axis defined by the support shaft 42. As the bottles revolve the cam followers 71 riding on the cam elevationally reciprocate the tables in a path corresponding to the upper surface of the cam 65. Specifically during the first 180 the bottle supporting table moves in a substantially horizontal path of travel, is elevated during the next 60, travels along a substantially horizontal dwell during the succeeding 15, descends during the following 60, and returns to 0 along a substantially horizontal path.

Bottles are ytransferred from the conveyor 2S to the bottle supporting tables by the bottle delivery star. wheel 36. To facilitate this movement, a bridging platform 72 extends from the upper run of the conveyor to provide a sliding path from the conveyor onto the tables. To pinion gears 50, reach gears 51 and spur gear 46 synchronize rotation of the star wheels and bottle supporting tables so as to provide each table with a single bottle as it moves adjacent to the delivery star wheel. In like manner, this timed association insures movement of the removal star` wheel to transfer bottles from the tables back onto the conveyor after completing their paths of travel around the support shaft 42.

Band feeding mechanism With particular reference to Figs. 1, 4, 13 and 14, a standard 79 is mounted in substantially upright position in any suitable manner adjacent to the conveyor 25 and the shaft 42. A magazine shaft 80 is mounted in the standard in substantially erect position lfor rotatable movement therein. A band supply magazine 81 is provided and includes a substantially horizontal plate 82 secured to the standard. The magazine also has vertically spaced outer circumferential rims 83 constituting an outer wall upwardly extended from the plate and providing a vertically disposed band dispensing gap or aperture 84 therein, the latter being best seen in Figs. 14 and 15. A plurality of erect rods 85 are secured to the outside of the rims and to the plate at spaced intervals around the magazine. An inner annular wall 86 is connected by a concentric hub 87 to the shaft 80 and is likewise concentric to the outer wall.

havi'nginner ends rlsldlxfseeur d. tierheim-1er'annulaire/al1' 86i and outer end sint slidable engagement with theouter wall! Slide blocks al aremountediter: slideble movement in the racks, and compressionE springs 92 are interposed the blocks and the inner wall. A` quantity.y of tubular band.- ing material. cut into. segments of predetermined length, indicated `at 93, and flattened.. for stpringpurposesLiepro; vided in each of the racksbetween the` slide bloeksftherein and. the outer wall. The bands inl each rack are yieldably urged outwardly against the wallby the springs. rIjhe material employedfor this purpose may b,etlrerrne-plastic,vv regenerated cellulose,V erV any: other suitahleI material tially immersed in glycerine or other protectivemedium toppreclude premature shrinkage, so that a b and thereof is adapted to" shrink on. the topE or upper' end.l 0f ai C011- tainer, such as a bottle 3,0, between the ycap or closure for the. container and the container itself for sealingypurposes.

As shownl in Fig. 1A in dashed. lines, the sgnirgear 46 is in driving connection to a pinion gear 9.4. onthernaga-` zine shaft 80 by means of; a 'plurality of reach gears 95. In this manner, powered rotation of oneof the star wheel .shafts 35 synchronously drives the other star wheel shaft, ythe inner housing `43, and the magazine shaft 80.

An elongated. band dispensing arm 96.l provides a rear -end pivotally connected by a pinh97, to a lziracket 9 8 outwardly extended from the magazine. 81. An arcuate clo- :sure plate 99 is attached at a'forward end of the arm and has a substantially flat extended portion 100. The arm` is adapted for movement between a position with the closure plate in covering relation tol the dispensing gap 84. in the annular wall 83 of the magazine, as showny inFig. l5., and a position with the. closureV plate removed from` suchgap, as shown in Figs. l and 14.

An electrically operated solenoid 105 shown in Figs. l and 16 is pivotally mounted on the plate 82 of the magrazine 81 and providesl an` armature 106 pivotally connected to the arm 916. A tension spring 107provides an end connected to the plate 82 and an opposite end connected to the band dispensing arm 96. A battery 108 and a microswitch 109 mounted on the lower bottle directing plate 37 are connected in series with the solenoid 105, a control switch 110, and a valve positioning solenoid 111, the function of which will be subsequently explained, The microswitch is of the type which is normally in closed position but is opened upon movement of a pivotedMactuat-y` ing arm 112 into. engagement with a button 113. When the solenoid 105 is energized by closing switch 110, it thrusts its armature outwardly and therefore pivots the arm 96 toward shaft S0. This moves the closure plate 100 over the gap 84. When solenoid 105 is de-energ'ized upon opening of the microswitch, the spring 107 pulls the` arrn 96 back and withdraws the closure plate from the gap.

In order to control the opening and closuring of the dispensing gap 84 by the closure plate 100, an arcuate bottle guiding plate 115 provides a mounting ange 116 pivotally connected by a pin 117 to a portion 118 extended from the lower bottle directing plate 37. The bottle guiding plate is therefore. movable around anerect axis adjacent to the inwardly guiding edges of the bottle directing plates and the delivery star wheel 36,` andl is urged in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 1,5, by a spring 119. Upon movement of a bottle 30 from1 the conveyor 25 to a bottle support table 58 by the deliveryY star wheel 36, the bottle guiding plate 115 is pivoted outwardly in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 15, to move the actuating arm 112 into engagement with the. button 113 thereby to open the microswitch 109. This retracts the plate 100 from its position over the gap 84 to enable the band applying mechanism 22 to receive a band 93 which is, disposed for removal from the magazine under urging o t' the associated spring 92. l

Band applying mechanism .As shown in Fig. 2, the inner housing 43 provides an upper end. having en inwardly direeted delle? 12,51 111911.15?`

127 is fitted over the bearing. and secureditothe. inward liange by bolts 1.28. The housing alsodias, an outwardly extended flange' 129 on which, is mounted an. assembly mounting plate 130 concentric to the support shaft, The mounting plate providesY av plurality of peripheraily spaced banding stations, generally indicated by the numerals. 13,1, referred to for purposes of descriptive convenience. The mounting plate also provides a substantial circular pe,- ripheral edge 132 outwardly extended in adjacent spaced relation above the` outer wall 83 ofthe band feeding magazine 81. Further, the plate has ar plurality of peripherally spaced, edgewardly located4 notches 133, at e'achfof,l the banding stations individually vertically alignedv with the bottle support tables 58.

In Fig. l, band manipulating mechanisms, generally indicated by the numeralI 134, are shown atl eachfbanding station 131. Since each such mechanism is identical, only one will be described in detail and for this purpose, referenceV is made to Figs. 4 and 5. The manipulatingv mechanism includes a stationary head 135. having-acenter guide plate 136 mounted on the, assembly mounting plate 130 inwardly radially positioned from one of the notches 133. The guide plate provides a central groove 13,7. A sleeve 139 is mounted on the guide plate and provides a; bore radially extended therethrough. A plurality of bol-ts 140 are extended through the center guide plate` intofthe assembly` mounting plate for holding center guide plates securely on the mountingA plate. i Y l A slide block provides` a bottom portion 14,6, slidably mounted on the assembly mounting plate 130 outwardly radially et center guide plate '13.6, andl'overlying the adjacent notch 133 in the` mounting plate. A center guide barI 14:7 is inwardly extended from the bottom portion of the slide block for slidable reception` in the.y central groove 137 of the center guide plate. `The slide block also includes a camming portionY 148, having a front c amming face and being integral withV the bottoni portion, and a top portion 149 extended upwardly from the camming portion. A cam follower 150, mounted on the top portion for rotation around a substantially 4errect axis. A slide rod 151 provides an outer end rigidly connected to the top p ortion of the slide block and an inwardly extended portion slidably received in the sleeve 139. A pair of lock nuts 152 are threadably itted o n the inner end of the slide rod, and a compression spring 153 is mounted around the slide rod between the sleeve and the top portion ofthe slide block thereby to urge the slide block radially outwardly on the assembly` mounting plate 130. l 'i Still referring to Figs. 4 and 5 but withV additional reference to Figs. 6, 7 andy 8, the stationary head 135 has a center band engaging ringer 1,60 downwardly extended from the bottom portion 146 of the slide block 145; spaced outwardly of the periphery of the assembly mounting plate 13d. As best shown in Fig. 8, the assembly mounting plate provides a pair of pivot ears 161 at opposite sides of the notch 133 associated with the banding station 131 under consideration. A pair of lateral band engaging fingers 162 provide vertically spaced hinge bosses 163 individually tted over the pivot ears. The lateral lingers are extended downwardlyisubstantiaily parallel tion the Center finger 1,6@- The fingere have front band een# v tacting faces normally lying in a substantially common vertical plane. These front faces of the h ngers of each stationary head 135 are successively brought intoA opposed felation with the dispensing, ser. 8,411.4 the band feeding magazine 81 as the assembly mounting plate 130is rotated so that sueh faces are substantially tangentially related to the outer wall 83 of the magazine. The rotation of the racks 9.0 is synchronized with housing 43` rotation se.

v 7 that aseacb set of tinger'faces opposed the gap, one of the racksis radially aligned therewith.v

Pivot pins 164 are extended through the pivot ea'rs ,161 and harige bosses 163 to enable pivotal movement of the laterallingers 162 around substantially erect axes. Each of the lateral fingers provides an upper rigidly connected lever 165 radially inwardly extended from the pivot axis ofthe finger and horizontally aligned with the cammingI portion 148 of the slide block 14S for engagement with the frontcamming face of the camming portion. 'Pegs 166 are. upwardly extended from the levers of t.e lateral fingers in spaced relation to the pivot axes of the lingers, and pegs `167 are upwardly extended from the camming portion ofthe slide block adjacent to the rearward edge thereof. Tension springs 168 are respectively extended between the pegs 166 and 167 on opposite sides of the slide'block for urging the levers into engagement with the camming face of the camming portion.

With attention being particularly directed to Figs. 4, 7 and 8, each of the band engaging ngers 160, 162 provides a bore 175 longitudinally extended therein, opening at a lower end of the finger, and being closed by a threaded plug 176 at such lower end. The fingers provide elongated slotted orifices 177 in communication with the bores and which open at the front faces of the fingers. The fingers also have air ducts 178 rearwardly extended therethrough connected to the bores, and flexible hoses 179 are coupled to the ducts. A manifold 180 providing a bore is mounted beneath the assembly mounting plate 130 radially inwardly of the fingers, and each of the hoses 179 is connected to the manifold in communication with the bore therein. All ngers have minute outwardly beveled grooves 181 endwardly extended at each end of the orifices therein. The purpose of these grooves is sig nificant and will be discussed subsequently.

A pair of inverted substantially L-shaped fixed brackets 185 provide vertical arms 186 xedly secured to the as sembly mounting plate 130 on opposite sides of the notch 133 and horizontal arms 187 generally radially outwardly extended therefrom. Movable U-shaped brackets 188 provide upper legs 189 individually pivotally connected to the horizontal arms of the L-shaped brackets by a pivot shaft 190. The U-shaped brackets also have connecting members 191 substantially equal in length to the vertical arms 186 and extended from the upper legs, and lower legs 192 extended from the connecting members in substantially parallel spaced relation to the upper legs. The U-shaped brackets are adapted for pivotal movement between positions inwardly folded against the L-shaped brackets, as in Fig. 5, and positions outwardly angularly extended therefrom, one of which latter positions is seen in Fig. 4.

The U-shaped brackets 188 constitute movable mounting members for a movable head 195 of the band manipulating mechanism 134. Thus a base plate 196 is rigidly secured to the lower legs 192 of the movable brackets and lies in a substantially common horizontal plane with the assembly mounting plate 130 when the movable brackets are in their inner folded position against the fixed brackets 185, as seen at the right of Fig. 2. The base plate 196 provides a notch 197 in opposed relation to the notch 132 in the mounting plate. A center guide plate 198 is mounted on the base plate and has a central groove 199. An integral sleeve 201 is mounted on the guide plate and the latter is secured to the base plate by bolts 202 extended therethrough and into the base plate.

A slide block 206 provides a bottom portion 207 having a center guide bar 208 in contact with the base plate 196 and mounted thereon for slidable movement in the central groove 199 of the guide plate 198. The slide block valso includes a camming portion 209 and a top portion 210 mounted in stacked relation on the bottom portion. A cam follower 211 is rotatably mounted oni the top portion for rotation around an axis substantially normal to the base plate 196.l A' slide rod 212provides an inner o. 8 end'rigidly connected to the top portion of the slide block and a rearward end slidably extended through the sleeve 2 01.v Nuts 213 are threadably received on the slide rod outwardly ofthe sleeve, and a coiled compression spring 214 is placed around the slide rod between the sleeve and the top portion of the slide block thereby to urge the slide block relatively inwardly of the center guide plate 198.

The movable head 195 also provides a center band engaging finger 220 downwardly extended from the bottom portion 207 of the slide block 206 at the forward edge thereof. With reference to Fig. 9, the base plate 196 is seen to have a pair of pivot ears 221 at opposite Sides of the notch 197. A'pair of lateral band engaging fingers 222 provide vertically spaced hinge bosses 223 individually fitted over the pivot ears. The lateral lingers are downwardly extended substantially vparallel to the center linger, and all of the lingers have front band contacting faces normally lying in a substantially common plane in opposed parallel relation to the plane of the fingers and 162 of the stationary head 135 when the heads are in closed position.

Pivot pins 224 are extended through the pivot ears 221 and hinge bosses 223 to enable pivotal movement of the lateral ngers 222 Y around substantially erect axes. Levers 22.5 are rigidly connected to the lateral lingers and radially inwardly extended from the pivot axes thereof in horizontal alignment with the camming portion 209 of the slide block 206 for engagement with the front camming face thereof. Pegs 226 are upwardly extended from the levers in spaced relation to the pivot axes of the lingers and, pegs227 are upwardly extended from the camming portion adjacent to the rearward edge thereof,

as best seen in Figs. 5 and 6. Tension springs 228 are extended between corresponding pegs 226 and 227 on opposite sides of the slidev block for urging the levers into engagement with the camming face of the camming portion.

In Figs. 7 and 9, the fingers 220 and 222 are shown tohave longitudinal bores 235 therein opening at lower ends 4thereof and being closed by plugs 236. The fingers are cut away, as at 237, in their front faces, and each finger has a pair of passages 238 providing communication between the bore therein and the cut away in the front face thereof. Suction tubes 239 of flexible material, such vas rubber, are securely fitted in the passages and provide forward internally bevelled ends 240. Air hoses 241 are individually connected to the ngers in communication with the bores therein. Further, a manifold 242 having a bore therein is mounted beneath the base plate 196, and the hoses 241 are all connected thereto.

It` lwill be recognized from vthe foregoing that the stationary and movable heads 135 and 195 of the band manipulating mechanism 135 are of substantially identical construction. v'Obviously the designation of the heads as stationary and movable is only appropriate in relation to eachother inasmuch as they are both movable relative to shaft 42 on the mounting plate 130. In a manner to be subsequently/ described, the movable head is adapted for movement between an inner or closed position, as in Fig. 5, injuxtaposition with the stationary head with the movable brackets 188 generally coincident with the xed bracketsV and an outer or open position outwardly upwardly pivoted relative to the fixed head, as in Fig. 4. In addition, when the heads lare in closed position, the band yengaging fingers 160, 162 and 220, 222 are adapted forimoveme'nt between inward positions lying in planes substantially parallel to each other, as seen in Fig. 5, and outward positions collectively 'arranged in substantially circular formation, that is substantially tangential to a common circle, as seen in Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, a plurality of substantially C-shaped brackets 245 provide lower portions iixedly secured to the outer housing 48, substantially erect portions, and upperportions inwardly radially extended over the .assembly=,moui1ting' plate 130 ongenerally the opposite side thereof from the magazine 81., An, arcuate.-

brackets above the assembly mounting plate 130. having` generally the same curvature as such plate. The cam 246 is horizontally positioned between the legs 189 and 192 of the movable brackets 188 at the same elevation as the cam followers 150 and 211 of the heads 135 and 198 and has a maximum width greater than the normal. spacing between the cam followers to spread the slide blocks 145 `and'206 and therefore the fingers 160, 162 and 220, 222 apart when the cam followersride on opposite sides of the cam. Referring to Fig. 3f, the cam. 246 is seen to extend from 150 to 345, having tapered ends extended from 180 to 150 and from 315 to 345.

Further, an annular head positioning cam 250 is mounted on the plate 49, as seen in Fig. 2, concentrically of the movable housing 43 and radially inwardly of the bottle elevating cam 65. A plunger rod 251 is associated with each of the movable heads 195 and is mounted in,

the annular bracket 55 radially inwardly of the. support posts 57 for slidable elevationalr movement therein. A stub axle 252 is rotatably connectedata lower end of each of the plunger rods. Cam followers 253 are journalled on the axles for engagement with the cam 250. A coil spring 254 is positioned around a lower end of each plunger rod below the annular bracket 55 between such bracket anda limit plate 255 on each plunger rod for urging the rod downwardly againstA the cam 250. Each plunger rod provides an upper end slidably extended through a bore provided for the purpose in the assembly mounting plate 130 adjacent to a banding station 131`and is pivotally connected by means of an arm 256 to one ofthe movable brackets 188 of its respective movable head.

The head positioning cam 250 is best shownin Fig. 3 as having a downwardly inclined'portion from 0 to 15, a lower dwell between l5 and 90, an upwardly inclinedV portion from 90 to 150, an upper dwell for the following 165, and thence downwardly from 315V to 360.

Thus, beginning at 0, the movable head 195 moves from,

a partially open position to a completely open or outwardly upwardly angulated position at and stays in this position up to 90. From 90 to 150, the movable head moves from a completely open to a completely closed position at 150 and remains closed up to 315. From 315 back to 0, the movable head moves toward an open.

position.

With particular reference to Figs. 2, 1l andl 12, a

dome-shaped hollow cap 260, constitutingl a. valve head,l

is integrally upwardly extended from the assembly. mounting plate 130, concentric to the shaft 42, forming an upward extension of the movable housingY 43, and being rotatable therewith around the support shaft as an. axis.`

terior of the cap. Valve control rods 264 are slidably.

mounted in the valve chambers providing' enlarged heads 265 above the annular collar, spaced upper and lower valving portions 266 slidably iittedA to the chambers, up-

per and lower annular grooves 267, and lower ends 268' downwardly extended from the collar., Spring pressed ball detents 269 are mounted in the collar and are adapted to engage the grooves in the valve control rods for maintaining the rods inY selected upper and lower positions in the valve chambers. Airl conducting conduits`270 and` 271 interconnect upper and lower valve openings in the cap with the manifolds 180 and 242, respectively, associated with the stationary and movable heads.v

Atf. theupperpositions. of ther valve control. rods?264',4 the. valving` portionsI 266 blockthe, upper andlower,4 valve openingsk 263, respectively. The rods vare held in. upper position by.engagementwiththe detents,2, 69-.withs the lower` annular grooves 267.` In the lowery positions. of the rods, the valving portionsV are outv of alignment; with= the valve openingsthereby permittingpajssage of air therethrough. Also, the rods -are heldin lower-position. until moved therefrorrrby engagement of` thefdetents in the upper annular grooves. The valve-y control"` rods must be moved to Y,either of their positions and when so moved, rem-ain insuch positions until again moved therefrom. The manner of movingtheV rods into either; their upper or lower positions will be described hereinafter.

A shaft extension 276 is endwardly securedto theV support shaft 42 above the bearing- 126 and has amounting, bloeit 277 constituting a valve control member transversely mounted thereon.- The mounting; block is positioned within the cap 260 and provides a peripheral surface opposite to the valve openings 263. The block. provides anvaxiallydisposedupwardly opening bore 278.l An annular valve control` cam 279 is` concentrically` mounted on the shaft extension276 below the mounting block, and a plurality ofl cam following arms 280 provide outer ends pivotally connected to ears dependentV from the annual` collar 2,61, and inner ends radially iuwardly` extended for sliding engagement on the valve controlcam. The-valve-controlrods 264 are urged into valve closing positionsby upwardmovement of the carri. following arms intoengagement therewith.

The cam 279 provides-a lower ilat dwell from 0 to: 300 where it then'provides an abrupt rise to 330. The cam then slopes sharply downwardly and from about. 340 to 360 is at' the initial lower at level. Therefore, if thevalve Openings 263 are open, that is, if` the valve control rods 265,-Y are in their lower positions, the cam 279k and arms 280- arel effective toclose the valve,v openings` by, lifting the rods during the interval between 300 and 330. The rods then remain in their upper positionsuntil positively moved into their lower positions.

The mounting block 277 has an annular groove 285 iny the periphery thereof which is positioned for registration with the valve openings 263.l ln addition, the mounting;

` blockhas. anV air pressure bore 286 radially extended from the axial= bore 278 outwardly to the annular groove 285. A plurality of arcuate valve segments 287, 288, 289 and 290 are secured by screws, as 291, to the periphery of,V the mounting block in angularly spaced, vertically staggered positions in the annular groove thereof. The seg'-V ments 287, 288 and 289 are arranged opposite the valve openings at selected positions around the periphery of the mounting block so as to block air passage through such openings in a manner to be described.

Referring to Fig. 3,. the specific locations of the valve` segments 287, 288, 289 andy 290 are clearly represented. Upper and lower segments 287 completely fill the annular groove 285 from a position just before 300 to a position just before 60. Inasmuch as the diagrams of Fig. 3 all beginfrom 0, the segments 287 are divided in the diagram as will be understood. The segment 288 llsthe lower half ofthe annular groove from just before 60 to a position just beyond and is actually an integral continuation of the lower segment 287. From a position just beyond 150 to a position just before 240 there are no segments and therefore the groove is completely empty. In an arcy of substantially 15 on both sides of the 240 position, the segment 289 completely lls the groove. The segment `290 extends from the upper part of segment 28B-to the upper segment 287` filling'in only the very top of the upper part of the groove above the upper valve openings 263.

Thus, as the cap 260 rotates relative to the block 277,

the valve openings 263 are both blocked from 0 to just before 60; the lower valve openings are blocked from just before 60 to just beyond 150, the upper valve openings being uncovered at this time. Both of the valve openings are uncovered from just after 150 up to just before 240. Both of the valve openings are covered from just before 240 to just beyond 240. Both of the valve openings are uncovered from just beyond 240 to just prior to 300 but along this span, the annular groove 285 is isolated from the interior of the cap above block 277 by segment 290. Both of the valve openings are covered or blocked from just before 300 back to 0.

A substantially cylindrical closed top casing 294 providing an air chamber communicating with the interior of the cap 260 is extended through the dome-shaped cap above the mounting block 277 and is seated therein by means of an annular bearing collar 295 threadably secured to the cap. The cap is rotatable relative to the casing and snap rings 296 maintain the casing axially fixed in the cap. A vacuum conduit 297 is connected to the casing in communication with the air chamber and is adapted for connection to the inlet of an air pump, not shown, for withdrawing air from the chamber. An elongated pressure conduit 300 is axially extended through the casing 294 into the axial bore 278 of the mounting block 277 and is fitted thereto by means of a sleeve nut 301 threaded in air-tight connection into the bore. Thus the pressure conduit is in communication with the radial bore 236 for the passage of air from a source of air pressure, not shown, connected to the pressure conduit into the radial bore 286 and out into the groove 285.

Referring to Fig. 1, an erect C-bracket 306 provides a mounting portion secured to the support flange 34 and a substantially horizontal portion inwardly radially extended above the assembly mounted plate 130. The C- bracket lies in a radial substantially vertical plane passing through The solenoid 111 is mounted on the inwardly extended portion of the C-bracket and provides a dependent armature 307 having a shoe 308 mounted thereon. The shoe has a radius of curvature concentric to the shaft 42, extends approximately 30 on each side of 0 directly above the enlarged heads 265 of the valve control rods 261 during rotation of the cap 260, and has an end portion 309 upwardly sloped in a counterclock- Wise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, but best seen in Fig. 16. A coil spring 310 is fitted around the armature between the shoe and the C-bracket for urging the shoe into a lower position for engagement with any of the valve control rods which are in their upper positions. When the solenoid 111 is energized, the shoe is raised into an upper position against the urging of the spring out of the path of the rods.

It will be remembered that the solenoid 111 is in series circuit with the solenoid 105 and the switch 109, as seen in Fig. 16. The solenoid 111 is de-energized when a bottle 30 moves the bottle guiding plate 115 into engagement with the actuating arm 112 for depressing the button 113. This permits the spring 310 to urge. the shoe 30S into lower position. Thus, if any of the valve control rods 265 are in an upper position as they travel from about 330 to about a 30 position, they engage the shoe along the sloped portion thereof and are forced into their lower positions to open the valve opening 263. The valve control rods remain in such lower positions until once again moved into an upper position by the valve positioning arms 280, as above described. If there are no bottles being delivered to the tables 58, the valve openings 263 remain closed so that there is no loss of pressure or suction. The valve positioning arms 280 raise the rods at about 330 during each cycle of rotationand if bottles are being delivered to the banding stations 131, the shoe immediately lowers the rods at a position just beyond 330.

Operation The operation of the banding machine of the present invention is believed readily understandable from the foregoing description and is briey summarized at this point. Initially, a supply of bands 93 is placed in the racks 90 between the magazine wall 83 and the slide blocks 91. It will be 'remembered that each of the bands is tubular in form when expanded but in the magazine racks, that the bands are in flattened horizontally stacked relation in axially upright positions.

The switch 110, in Fig. 16, is closed to energize the solenoids and 111 thereby to urge the closure plate 100 over the dispensing gap 84 in the magazine 81 and to pull the shoe 30S into upper position. In addition, the vacuum and pressure conduits 297 and 300 are connected to any suitable source of pneumatic energy, such as the inlet and outlet of an air pump, not shown.

Filled bottles 30, or other containers, having top ends capped, plugged, or otherwise closed, are positioned on the conveyor 25, 'and the conveyor is operated to carry the bottles toward the band applying mechanism 22. Power is applied to one of the star wheel shafts 35, as described, so that as each bottle passing down the conveyor reaches the first or delivery star wheel 36, it is engagedv by the wheel and moved across the bridging platform 72 guided by the adjacent bottle directing plates 37. The pinion gear 49 on the driving star wheel shaft drives the spur gear 46' through its gear train 50 and the spur gear in turn rotates the driven star wheel shaft and the magazine shaft 80.` Rotation of the housing 43 revolves the bottle supporting tables 58 synchronously with rotation of the star wheels so that as a bottle is moved across the bridging platform, the tables successively are positioned' at the 30 position to receive the bottles individually from the conveyor. Rotation of the housing 43 also rotates the assembly mounting plate and banding stations 131 thereon. The same number of banding stations and racks 90 are provided and the rotation of the assembly mounting plate and the magazine are synchronized so that at the 60 position of rotation of the assembly mounting plate, one of the banding stations is aligned with one of the racks. It will of course be understood that the same number of banding stations and racks need not be employed so long as proper synchronization is observed and the same peripheral speed and spacing are maintained to achieve the desired mating.

It willbe evident, therefore, that the banding stations 131 rotate from 0 in a clockwise direction throughout 360 during each cycle of operation. Obviously, the indication of the various positions of the banding stations by way of degrees of rotation is only for descriptive convenience and is in no way limiting to the invention. In order to describe the specific manner in which a bandis applied to a bottle 30, one bottle will be considered as it travels on its bottle supporting table 58 from a 30 position where it is received from the conveyor 25 to a 330 position where it is discharged back onto the conveyor. Briefly stated, however, a bottle is received at the 30 position or bottle receiving station, a band is received at the 60 position or band receiving station, the received band is opened and applied to the bottle between the and 330 positions or band opening and applying stations, and the banded bottle is discharged at the 330 position or bottle discharging station. Further, in the subsequent description 0f the operation of the banding of a single bottle, it will be assumed that bottles are continuously being fed to the tables in successive relation following the bottle under consideration. This continuous movement of bottles across the platform 72 maintains the bottle guiding plate 115, as best seen in Fig. l5, against the actuating arm 112 which, in turn, engages the button'113 to maintain the microswitch 109 open. This de-energizes the solenoid 105 and permits the spring 107 to retract the closure plate 100 into a position opening the dispensing gap 84. This also de-energizes the solenoid 111 to llower the shoe 308. As long as bottles are continuously f ed across the platform 72 by the star wheel, the solenoids remain de-energized and their con- 113 trolled members in corresponding positions, as` described.

After a bottle'is received on a table 5S, it is moved in a clockwise direction, asviewedin Fig. 1, to the 60 position. At this position, the movable head 195 of the band manipulating mechanism 135 at the banding station 131 associated with the table on which the bottle is located is in its upper position out of the path of the magazine 81. Further, as seen in Fig. 4, the band engaging fingers 160, 162 of the fixed head135 of this band manipulating mechanism are in opposed relation to the dispensing gap 84 of the magazine.

Assuming that the shoe 30S has moved the valve control rod 265 into lower position to `open the valve openings 263, suction is applied to the nozzles 177 of these ngers from the conduit 297, the casing 294, the upper part of groove 285, the upper valve opening 263, conduit 270, the mani fold 180, the conduit 179 to the nozzles 177. Therefore, the outermost band 93 in the, adjacent rack 90 is drawn outwardly against the band engaging fingers 160 and 162.

As the housing 54. continues to rotate the movable head 195 of the` station 131 under consideration begins to move downwardly at about 90 and is completely closed against the fixed. head at 150, as best seen in Fig. 5. Just past 150 of rotation, suction is also applied to the tubes 239 of the band engaging lingers 220 and 222 since groove 285 is completely empty from this position to about 240. Suction at the nozzles 177 and tubes 239 tends to `draw the band against each set of lingers. At this point, however, it is significant to note that the fingers 160 and/or 162 of the stationary head 135 provide grooves 181 at the ends of the nozzles 177 thereof to facilitate separation of opposite sides of the band from its flat condition to a substantially tubular condition. Thus, suction at the nozzles 177 draws upper centralY portions of the band thereagainst into the grooves 131. This tends to crimp or pucker the band at its upper and lower edges minutely toseparate the closely adhering opposite sides to break the capillary attraction therebetween creating a seal incident to atmospheric pressure exerted externally thereon and to enableV opening of the band. The grooves 181, evident in Fig. 8, are of a particular significance warranting further emphasis. During early experimental work with the apparatus of the subject invention, it appeared virtually impossible to open the bands by suction means because of the atmospheric pressure holding the opposite sides in tight intimate engagement. While it was recognized that air pressure was creating the diiiiculty, it at first was impossible speedily and dependably to break the vacuum. It was discovered that by employing the grooves 181 at the upper and lower edges of the bands 93, as shown in Fig. 4, .the vacuum could be readily broken but only if the grooves bore a particular relationship to the coeicient flexibility and thickness of the bands. For example, if the grooves 131 are too large opposite sides of the bands are drawntherein and there is absolutely no separation to break the vacuum. It has been found critical to employ grooves 181 of a transverse dimension or curvature such that a single thickness of a band can iiex inwardly thereof when vacuum is applied but not large enough to receive a double thickness of the band material. When this relationship is observed, the upper and lower edges of the opposite sides of the flattened bands are minutely separated so that air may enter between the opposite sides, break the vacuum, and permit 'ready expansion for bottle mounting purposes.

At approximately 150 of rotation, the cam following rollers 150 and 211 straddle opposite sides of the band opening` cam 246 which, because of its Width, urges the slide blocks 145 and 206 radially outwardly from each other against the urgingr of the springs 153 and 214. As `seen in Figs. 6 and 7', this moves the band engaging fingers 160, 162. and 220, 222 into their outer position in which they are arranged in substantially circular formation. This, of course, opens the band held therebetween into 14 its tubular'condition because of the suction applied to th ugers. i

The band 931is held open from about 180 of rotation to about 315. At 180 of rotation, the table 58 and bottle -ftlfthereon moves upwardly and at 240, the top of such bottle is inserted between the band engaging fingers 160, 162, and 220, 222 and within the band distended therebetween. Iust prior to 240 of rotation the segments 289 block the valve openings 263 so that suction is removed from the fingers to release the band. Iust beyond 240 pressure is applied to all of the fingers from conduit 300, passage 286', groove 285, valve openings263, conduits 270 and 271, manifold 180- a-nd 242 and conduits 179 and 241 to blow air outwardly onA all sides of the band now positioned around the top of the bottle. This pressure is continued up to just before 300 of rotation and is primarily employed; to insure release of the band from the fingers.

The cam 65 lowers the bottle support table S8 during the interval between 255 and about 315 until at the latter point; the. bottle support table is at a level horizontally aligned with the conveyor 25. When the banded bottle 30 reaches. the secondl star wheel 36 at 330, it is engaged thereby and swept off the table on to the conveyor and thence transported. by the conveyor to labeling, packaging or other stations as desired. At approximately 315 the band opening cam 246 narrows so that the springs and 214y urge the band engaging ngers 160, 162 and 220, 222 toward each other and into` substantially parallel planes. Also at about 315, the movable head 195 of the band manipulatingmechanism 135 begins to rise outwardly and upwardly and is in its uppermost position so as to be above the magazinel during passage thereby as described.

The valve positioning arm 180 raises the valve control rod 265 into an upper position blocking the valve openings 263 at 330 of rotation. Of course, as explained, if the operation of the machine is continuous so that bottles are being continuously fed into engagement with the bottle guiding plate 115, the shoe 35S remains down so that just beyond 330, the valve control rod is again lowered by' engagement with the shoe.

The bandingI material which is applied to the bottles shrinks thereon and provides a seal between the bottle and its closure. The machine of the present invention enables rapid, uniform and fully automatic banding of bottles and other containers with pre-cut bands in a highly effective manner.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to `secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a banding machine, a pair of sets of band engaging members having band contacting faces and air passages opening outwardly of the faces, means mounting the members in the machine for movement between inner positions with their faces in opposed substantially parallel planes and outer positions with said faces in an annular formation about a predetermined area therewithin, means applying suction to said air passages during movement of the members from inner to outer positions, and means for moving the members between inner and outer positions. Y

2. In a banding machine, a mechanism for opening into tubular form tubular bands which have been previously attened for storage comprising a plurality of band e11- giaging members having forward faces providing air openings therein, means mounting the members in the machine for movement from an inner position with the faces disposed in a pair of adjacent opposed parallel planes and an outer position with the faces substantially tangentially related to a common circle, means mounted in the machine operatively associated with the members for alternately moving the members to said positions, and air control means connected to the members in communication with the air openings therein to draw air inwardly from said forward faces and to hold bands thereagainst so as to open such bands when the members move from inner to outer positions and to discharge air through the openings to release the bands prior to return of the members to inner position.

3. In a banding machine, a pair of corresponding sets of fingers providing opposed band engaging faces having air openings therein; means mounting the sets of ngers for alternate movement between closely adjacent yspaced relation and relatively retracted position; means mounting the fingers within the sets for synchronous movement when the sets are in adjacent relation along individual paths between facing positions with the faces in adjacent substantially parallel planes and open positions with the faces disposed in substantially equally spaced relation about a common circle and in tangential relation to the circle; means for delivering flattened tubular banding material to one of the sets of fingers while the sets are in relatively retracted position; pneumatic means connected to the openings in the faces of the fingers; and automatic control means connected to the pneumatic' means, the set mounting means and the finger mounting means synchronously and successively drawing air inwardly through the openings in the set of fingers to which the tubular banding material is delivered at the time of such delivery, moving the sets of fingers to closely adjacent spaced relation with the faces of the sets in substantially parallel relation, drawing air inwardly through the openings of both sets of fingers while the fingers are moved to their open position, discharging air outwardly through the openings of the fingers while the fingers are in open position, returning the fingers of each set to closed position, and moving the sets to relatively retracted position.

4. In a banding machine including a support; a mechanism for opening into tubular form tubular bands Which have been flattened for storage comprising a pair of sets of elongated substantially erect fingers having forward band contacting faces mounted in the support with the faces in opposed substantially parallel relation including intermediate fingers movable in horizontal rectilinear paths toward and from each other in forward and rearward directions respectively, and a pair of lateral fingers on opposite sides of their associated intermediate fingers pivotally movable around substantially erect axes, the vfingers in one set having elongated air orifices; extended air nozzles mounted in the fingers of the other set of fingers opposite to the elongated orifices of said one set of fingers; a source of pneumatic energy connected to the nozzles and orifices in the fingers to draw air inwardly therethrough thereby to enable drawing of a band against the extended nozzles and against the faces of the fingers having elongated orifices; cam following means connected to the intermediate fingers; means connecting the lateral fingers of each set o-f fingers to the intermediate fingers of their respective set of fingers for rearward pivotal movement of the lateral fingers incident to rearward movement of their associated intermediate fingers; and camming means mounted in the support engaging the cam following means to move the fingers from said opposed parallel relation rearwardly into positions substantially tangential to a common circle thereby to open a band held therebetween.

5. In a banding machine including a support; a carrier mounted in the -support movable in a predetermined path; a mechanism mounted in the carrier for opening into tubular form tubular bands which have been flattened for sto-rage comprising a pair of sets of elongated substantially erect fingers having forward band contacting faces Vmounted in the carrier with the faces in opposed substantially parallel-relation including intermediate fingers movable in horizontal rectilinear paths forwardly and rearwardly relative to the opposed intermediate finger, and a pair of lateral fingers on opposite sides of their associated intermediate finger pivotally movable around substantially erect axes, the fingers in one set having elongated air nozzles; resiliently flexible air nozzles forwardly extended from the fingers of the other set of fingers toward the elongated nozzles in said one set of fingers; a source of pneumatic energy connected to the nozzles in the fingers to draw air inwardly therethrough thereby to enable drawing of a band against the extended nozzles and against the faces of the fingers having elongated nozzles; cam following means connected to the intermediate fingers engageable with the lateral fingers to urge the lateral fingers forwardly; means connecting the lateral fingers to the intermediate fingers of their respective sets of fingers for rearward pivotal movement of the lateral fingers incident to rearward movement of their associated intermediate fingers; means mounted in the carrier engaging the cam following means yieldably urging the fingers into positions with their faces in opposed parallel relation; stationary camming means mounted in the support adjacent to the path of movement of the carrier for engagement with the cam following means to move the fingers from said opposed parallel relation rearwardly into positions substantially tangential to a common circle thereby to open a band held therebetween.

6. In a banding machine, a support, a pair of band engaging members having forward faces providing air passages, means mounting the band engaging members in the support in opposed substantially parallel facing relation for movement in predetermined substantially radially related rectilinear paths inwardly and outwardly relative to each other, the mounting means for one of the band engaging members being additionally mounted on the support for pivotal movement around an axis disposed transversely of the rectilinear paths of movement of the band engaging members between a position with the members in opposed substantially parallel facing relation and a position with the members angularly related to each other, and means for applying suction to the air passages in the band engaging members to draw a band thereagainst.

7. ln a banding machine, a band manipulating mechanism comprising relatively stationary and movable heads each including a plurality of band engaging fingers having air-passages opening outwardly thereof, means mounting the movable head for movement between an inner position with the fingers thereof in opposed facing relation to the fingers of the stationary head with their respective air passages in opposed relation and an outer position outwardly spaced from the stationary head, the fingers being mounted in their respective heads for movement in the inner position of the movable head between inner positions lying in substantially parallel planes and outer positions collectively in substantially circular formation outwardly spaced from said parallel relation, means for ymoving the movable head between its inner and outer positions, means for moving the fingers between their inner and outer positions, and means connected to the air passages in the fingers to draw air inwardly of the passages in the fingers of the stationary head when the movable head is in its outer position and inwardly Aof the passages in all of the fingers during movement of the fingers from their inner to their outer positions.

8. In a banding machine; support means; a carrier mounted in the support movable in a predetermined path; a mechanism for opening into tubular form tubular bands which have been pre-attened for storage purposes including first and second sets of elongated substantially erect fingers having forward band contacting faces mounted in the support means with the faces in opposed substantially parallel relation, the sets of fingers including intermediate fingers movable in horizontal rectilinear paths toward and from each other and lateral ngers on opposite sides of their associated intermediate fingers pivotally movable around substantially erect axes between closed positions in common planes l 17 with their respective intermediate lingers and open posi tions in circular association with all of the lingers, the lingers in the lirst set of tingers having elongated air orifices; extended resiliently flexible air nozzles mounted in the ngers of the second set of lingers; means mounting the lirst set of fingers for pivotal movement between an inner position in opposed relation to the second set of fingers and an outer position outwardly angularly extended from said inner position around an axis disposed transversely to the rectilinear paths of movement of the inten mediate lingers to enable placing of a band against the faces of the first set of fingers when the second set is in said outer position; air control means connected to the nozzles and the orilices yto draw air inwardly therethrough to enable drawing of a band against the extended nozzles and against the faces of the second set of lingers; means operatively connected to the fingers to move the fingers from said opposed parallel relation outwardly into positions substantially tangential to a common circle thereby to open a band held therebetween; and means mounted in the support means adjacent to the path of the carrier adapted to contain a supply of tubular bands in lattened condition for feeding a band to the second set of fingers when the first set of lingers is in said outer position.

-`9. In a banding machine; support means; tirst and second band holding members; means pivotally interconnecting the members for movement of the rst member between an inner position in closely spaced relation to the second member and an outer position outwardly angularly pivoted therefrom; a tubular band supply magazine mounted in the support means having a wall providing an aperture therein, a rack adapted to hold a quantity of bands having an open outer end closed by the wall and mounted for slidable movement past the aperture, and means in the rack urging the bands outwardly into engage ment with the wall; means mounted in the support means for moving the rack relative to the wall; a closure memJ ber mounted on the magazine releasably tted in covering relation to the aperture in the wall; driven means mounted in the support means mounting the band holding members therein for movement past the aperture in the magazine wall; means synchronously interconnecting the driven means and the rack moving means for bringing the band holding members into opposed relation with said aperture simultaneously with movement of the rack thereby; means connected to the iirst band holding member for pivoting the lirst member into outer position during passages of the band engaging member by the aperture in the magazine; and means connected to the closure member for releasing the closure member from covering relation` to the aperture during passage of the band holding members by the aperture.

10. In a banding machine; support means; first and second band holding members; means pivotally interconnecting the members for movement of the first member between an inner position in closely spaced relation to the second member and an outer position outwardly upwardly pivoted therefrom; a tubular band supply magazine mounted in the support means having a wall providing an aperture therein, a rack adapted to hold a quantity of bands having an open outer end closed by the wall and mounted for movement past the aperture, and means in the rack urging the bands outwardly into engagement with the wall; means mounted in the support means for moving the rack relative to the wall; a closure member mounted on the magazine releasably fitted in covering relation to the aperture in the Wall; driven means mounted in the support means mounting the band holding members therein for movement past the aperture in the magazine wall; means synchronously interconnecting the driven means and the rack moving means for bringing the band holding members into opposed relation with said aperture simultaneously with movement of the rack thereby; means connected to the iirst band holding member f or pivoting the first member into outer position during passage of the band engaging member by the aperture in the magazine, the band holding members including band holding fingers mounted in the driven means for movement toward and away from each other; a bottle support mounted for elevational movement in the driven means; bottle conveying means mounted in the support means; means mounted in the support means for delivering a bottle from the conveying means to the bottle support; means mounted in the support means operative in response to delivery of a bottle from the conveying means to the bottle support for releasing the closure member from covering relation to the aperture; means mounted in the support means engageable with the band holding members for moving the lingers of the band holding members away from each other after the band holding members have traveled past the aperture in the magazine; and means mounted in the driven means for elevating the bottle support relative to the band holding members to position a bottle on the bottle support between the lingers of the band holding members when said ngers are moved away from each other.

11. In a banding machine; support means; first and second band holding members; means pivotally interconnecting the members for movement of the first member between an inner position in closely spaced relation to the second member and an outer position outwardly upwardly pivoted therefrom; a tubular band supply magazine mounted in the support means having a wall providing an aperture therein, a rack adapted to hold a quantity of bands having an open outer end closed by the wall and mounted for movement past the aperture, means in the rack urging the bands outwardly into engagement with the wall; means mounted in the support means for moving the rack relative to the wall; a closure member mounted on the magazine releasably fitted in covering relation to the aperture in the wall; driven means mounted in th support means mounting the band holding members therein for movement past the aperture in the magazine wall; means synchronously interconnecting the driven means and the rack moving means for bringing the band holding members into opposed relation with said aperture simultaneously with movement of the rack thereby; means connected to the rst band holding member for pivoting the first member into outer position during passage of the band engaging member by the aperture in the magazine, the band holding members including band holding fingers mounted in the driven means for movement in a substantially rectilinear path toward and away from each other; a bottle support mounted for elevational movement in the driven means; bottle conveying means mounted in the support means; means mounted in the support means for delivering a bottle from the conveying means to the bottle support; means mounted in the support means operative in response to delivery of a bottle from the conveying means to the bottle support for releasing the closure member from covering relation to the aperture; means mounted in the support means for moving the lingers of the band holding members away from each other after the band holding members have traveled past the aperture in the magazine; means mounted in the driven means for elevating the bottle support relative to the band holding members to position a bottle on the bottle support between the fingers of the band holding members when said iingers are moved away from each other; a source of air pressure; a source of vacuum; and valve means having connection to the pressure and vacuum sources and to the air passages in the band holding fingers including a stationary valve member mounted in the support means and a valve head connected to the drive means relatively movable to connect the vacuum source to the iinger of the second band holding member when the members pass the aperture in the magazine, to connect the vacuum source to both of the fingers prior y l to and while they are moved in a rectilinear path away from each other, and to connect the pressure source to the fingers while they are spaced apart after having been moved in a rectilinear path away from each other.

12. In a banding machine including a support, a band engaging member having an air nozzle therein and means for applying suction to the nozzle; a band supply magazine mounted in the support comprising a substantially circular wall adjacent to the band engaging member having an aperture therein in opposed relation to the band engaging member, closure means mounted on the magazine for movement between a closing position over the aperture in the wall and a position retracted therefrom, a rack radially extended relative to the wall for containing a quantity of tubular bands stacked in flattened condition having an outer open endv adapted to be aligned with said aperture, means mounted in the rack for urging the bands against the wall, and means connected to the closure means for moving it between closing and retracted positions to dispense a band for engagement by the band engaging member when in retracted position.

13. In a banding machine including a carrier movable in a predetermined path of travel, a substantially horizontal bottle support mounted in the carrier, means for delivering a bottle to the support, a band engaging member having an air passage therein mounted in the carrier for movement therewith above the bottle support, a rack mounted in the machine adjacent to the carrier having a forward open end adapted to lie in adjacent spaced relation to the path of travel of the band engaging member and adapted to hold a stack of tubular bands in llattened condition, means in the rack urging the bands toward the open end thereof, closure means mounted in the machine for movement between a position over the open end of the rack and a position retracted therefrom, electromagnet means connected to the closure means for controlling the position thereof, control means engageable with a bottle delivered by said delivery means to the bottle support to operate the electromagnet means, and means connected to the air passage in the band engaging member for applying suction to said passage to draw a band against said band engaging member during passage thereof by the open end of the rack and when said closure member is retracted.

14. A banding machine comprising a carrier mounted for rotation around a predetermined erect axis having a plurality of banding stations located in peripherally spaced relation substantially equally radially spaced from said axis, band engaging members mounted in the carrier at the stations having outwardly disposed air nozzles and movable in a substantially circular path of travel, bottle support members mounted in the carrier at the stations below the band engaging members individually corresponding to the band engaging members; a bottle conveyor; means for delivering bottles from the conveyor individually and successively to the bottle supports; a magazine having a stationary outer wall peripheral-ly adjacent to the carrier providing an aperture in opposed facing relation to the banding member during passage thereby, a plurality of horizontal radially disposed racks mounted for rotation within the wall adapted to contain tubular bands in flattened horizontal stacked relation and adapted to register with the aperture during passage thereby, means mounted in the racks for urging the bands against the wall; a closure member mounted on the magazine for movement between a position over the aperture and a position retracted therefrom; electromagnet means connected to the closure member for controlling the position thereof; control means mounted in the machine engageable with bottles delivered to the supports by the delivery means to operate the electromagnet means to move the closure member to retracted position; powered drive means connected to the carrier, the conveyor, the delivering means and the magazine racks for synchronizing movements thereof to deliver bottles successively to the bottle supports and to rotate the carrier and` the racks to bring the band engaging members andthe racks suc- 20 cessively into opposed relation in registry with said aperture; and means connected to the air passages in the band engaging members to draw bands against the band engaging members during passage thereof by the racks when bottles are being delivered to the bottle supports to maintain the closure members in retracted position.

15. In a banding machine, a pair of band engaging members having air passages opening outwardly thereof, means mounting the band engaging members for movement between an inner position with the air passages in closely adjacent opposed relation and an outer position spaced outwardly from each other, carrier means supporting the mounting means for movement of the band engaging members in a predetermined path from a band receiving station to a band opening station, a source of pneumatic energy, and valve means interconnecting the air passages and said source having a partially open position to apply suction to `one of the air passages including a valve control member operatively connected to the carrier means partially to open the valve means at said band receiving station and fully to open the valve means at said band opening station.

16. In a banding machine, a pair of band engaging members having air passages opening outwardly thereof, means mounting the band engaging members for movement between an inner position with the air passages in closely adjacent opposed relation and an outer position spaced outwardly from each other, carrier means supporting the mounting means for movement of the band engaging members in a predetermined path from a band receiving station to a band opening station, a hollow valve head having a pair of valve openings therein respectively connected to the air passages in the band engaging members, air pressure means, air suction means, a valve control member mounted in the valve head having air pressure and suction passages therein respectively connected to the pressure means and suction means registrable with the valve openings to apply pressure and suction to the air passages in the band engaging members, and means mounting the valve head in the carrier means for movement of the valve head relative to the valve control member to bring the valve openings into registration with the suction passages when the band engaging members are at said band receiving station and successively into registration with the suction pressure passage during movement of the engaging members through the band applying station.

17. In a bottle banding machine; a support; a pair of band engaging members having air passages opening outwardly thereof; means mounting the band engaging members for movement between an inner position with the air passages in closely adjacent opposed relation and an outer position spaced outwardly from each other; a carrier mounted in the support and supporting the mounting means; a table mounted in the carrier adapted to support a bottle, the carrier being adapted to move the band engaging members and the bottle in a predetermined path from a bottle receiving station to band receiving and band opening stations, and to a bottle discharging station and return; a conveyor mounted in the support adjacent to the bottle receiving station; means mounted in the support adjacent to the conveyor and the bottle receiving station for moving a bottle from the conveyor to the table; a hollow valve head having a pair of valve openings therein respectively connected to the air passages in the band engaging members; air pressure means; air .suction means; a valve control member positioned within the valve head having air pressure and suction passages therein respectively connected to the pressure means andsuction means registerable with the valve openings to subject the air passages in the band engaging members successively to air pressure and suction; means mounting the valve head on the carrier for movement of the valve head relative to the valve control member to lbring the valve openings into registration with the suction passage Whenthemband engagingmembers are at said band receiving station and successively into registration with the suction-and pressure passages during movement of the engaging members through the band applying station; a valve control rod having opposite ends slidably reciprocally mounted in the valve head having a first position opening the valve openings and a second position closing such openings; cam means mounted in the support; cam following means connected to the valve head engaging the cam means and engageable with one end of the valve control rod as the band engaging members reach the end of-,the band applying station to move the rod into said second position; electromagnetic means mounted in the support adjacent to said predetermined path of movement engageable with the other end of the rod to move the rod into said first position after the cam following means moves the rod into the second position and before the band engaging members reach the band receiving station; and control means operatively engageable with the electromagnetic means incident to delivery of a bottle to the carrier to operate the electromagnetic means.

18. In a banding machine for applying tubular bands of shrinkable material on containers, which bands are maintained in moist flattened condition prior to application thereby having opposite fiat sides tending to seal together and opposite end edges, a pair of band engaging members having band contacting faces adapted to have a attened band placed thereagainst, and providing air passages opening outwardly of the faces, one of the passages being elongated and having opposite ends providing grooves endwardly extended from the elongated air passage in said one member, the grooves being of such a transverse dimension in lrelation to the bands employed that only a single side at a time can be drawn inwardly thereof; means applying suction to the air passages to draw the opposite portions of a attened band against their respective faces and to draw an edge of the band into said groove thereby to break the seal between the portions of the band; and means mounting the members in the machine for movement toward and away from each other to open the band during the movement away from each other.

19. In a banding machine for applying tubular bands of shrinkable material on containers, which bands are maintained in moist flattened condition prior to application thereby to provide opposite flat portions tending to seal together and opposite end edges, a pair of band engaging members having band contacting faces adapted to have a attened band placed thereagainst, air passages opening outwardly of the faces, one of the passages being elongated and having opposite ends, grooves endwardly extended from the elongated air passage in said one member; a resiliently exible air nozzle mounted in the member opposite to that having the grooves in communication with the air passage in said opposite me mber and extended outwardly of the face; means applying suction to the air passages to draw the opposite portions of a flattened band against the air nozzle and face having the grooves therein and to draw opposite end edges of the band -into said grooves thereby to break the seal between the portions of the band; means mounting the members in the machine for movement toward and away from each other to open the band during the movement away from each other; and means for moving the members toward and away from each other.

20. In a banding machine for applying tubular bands of shrinkable material on containers, which bands are maintained in moist attened condition prior to application thereby having opposite llat sides tending to seal together and opposite end edges, a pair of sets of erect band engaging ngers having front faces, one set of fingers having elongated air nozzles opening outwardly into the faces thereof, one of said elongated nozzles having grooves endwardly extended therefrom, substantially cylindrical resiliently exible air nozzles extended outwardly of the v t 22 frontfaces of the other set of fingers, the set of fingers having elongated nozzles being adapted to hold one portion of a llattened band thereagainst, the resiliently flexible air nozzles being adapted to engage the opposite portion of a band held against the ngers with elongated nozzles, means mounting the sets of lingers in the machine for movement between an inner position with their faces in opposed substantially parallel planes and an outer position with said faces collectively arranged in substantially circular formation, meansv operatively engaging the fingers for moving the iingers between inner and outer positions, and means applying suction to the nozzles associated with each set of ngers to draw the adjacent portion of a band thereagainst, to draw the edges of the band into said grooves to break the seal between opposite portions of the band, and to open such band during movement of the fingers from inner to outer position.

2l. In a banding machine; a support for articles to be banded; spaced pneumatic band engaging means adapted to lhold a band therebetween and separable to open a band being held therebetween; carrier means mounting the article support and band engaging means in elevationally spaced relation for relative elevational movement and for movement in a predetermined horizontal path in sequence from an article receiving station to band receiving and band applying stations, to an article discharging station and return; means mounted in the machine positioned at the band receiving station for delivering a band to the band engaging means; means mounted in the machine positioned at the band applying station for temporarily separating the band engaging means to open a band held therebetween; and means mounted in the machine for elevating the article support to move an article thereon into a position to be banded between the banding engaging means during said temporary separation and for lowering the support prior to arrival of the band engaging means at the article discharging station.

22. A bottle banding machine comprising support means; a mounting member; a pair of band holding members having air passages supported in the mounting member for movement toward and away from each other and with their air passages adapted to be brought into opposed facing relation; band supply means mounted in the support means; a carrier mounted in the support means supporting the mounting member for moving the band holding members in a predetermined path from a bottle receiving station past the band supply means, to a band applying station and to a bottle discharging station and return; means mounted in the support operative to move the band holding members away from each other during passage of the members by the supply means to expose the air passage in one of the members to the band supply means and toward each other after passage by the supply means; means mounted in the support engaging the band holding members to move them sequentially away from each other at the band applying station and toward each other prior to arrival of the band holding members at said discharging station; a bottle support adapted to support a bottle thereon and mounted in the carrier for movement toward and from the band engaging members and for movement with the band engaging members in said predetermined path; means mounted in the support means sequentially moving the bottle support toward the band engaging members at the band applying station and away from the bottle support prior to arrival of the band engaging members at the discharging station to insert a bottle thereon between the band engaging members at the band applying station; and a penumatic system connected to the air passages in 'the band engaging members for sequentially applying suction to the air passage exposed to the supply means during passage thereby and to both of said air passages at said band applying station and for releasing such suction prior to arrival of the band engaging members at said bottle discharging station.

23, In a bottle banding machine, support means, a pair of band? holding members having' air passages therein, means mounting the band holding members in the support means for movement in a predetermined path from a bottle receiving station to abottle discharging station and return, the band holding members being mounted in the mounting means with their air passages in opposed facing relation and being movable inwardly and outwardly relative to each other, means mounted in the support means operatively engaging the band holding members for moving the members outwardly relative to each other at predetermined band receiving stations and band applyingy stations successively located intermediate the bottle receiving and discharge stations, a band supply means adapted to contain a quantity of tubular bands in attened condition and mounted adjacent to the path of movement of the band holding members at said band` receiving station for delivering a band to one of the bandl holding members during its passage thereby, a support for a bottle mounted in the mounting means below the band holding members for horizontal movement between the bottle receiving and discharge stations and for elevational movement to position a bottle thereon between the band holding members. when outwardlyvrelative to each other and a.vposition retracted therefrom, drive means mounted in the mounting means for elevat# ing the bottle support toposition a bottle thereon between the band holding members at said band applyingl station, andI a pneumatic 'system connected to the air passages in the band holding members including valve means operable to apply suction to said one band holding member to which the band supply means delivers a band to draw sucn band thereagai-nst, to apply suction to both of the band holding members during movement out-l wardly relative to each other at said band applying station to draw the band againstboth members and to open the band into tubular form, and to release said suction after a bottle has been positioned between the band holding members and within a handheld therebetween.

References Cited in the. le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,654,520 Allen et al Oct. 6, 1953. 

